Y UDL PRO DE EMA HOM
WAX SEALS Give your presents a seal of approval
You will need:
Wrapped gift String or foliage Wax seal stamp* (search etsy.com for lots of options) Sealing wax (you can buy from thelittlebluebrush.com) melting spoon (thepaperbox.co.uk) Tealight candle and matches
1 Choose a good modern sealing wax made with 100% natural plantbased waxes and resins. Place three or more sealing wax beads (or a piece of a wax stick) into a melting spoon and hold it carefully over the flame of a tealight candle until the wax is almost completely melted – it should resemble cold honey (If it gets too hot, it will be runny and will spread uncontrollably).
2 Hold your overlapped string in place on your wrapped gift and allow the melted wax to drip onto the centre of the crossover point. It is a misconception that wax seals should be perfectly round. Genuine wax seals are always a little different from each other, so go with the flow – a naturally uneven bleed is fine. Position the wax seal stamp on the melted wax and hold in place for 10-15 seconds. The wax should overlap the string to hold it in place. If sealing foliage, make sure you use enough wax to ensure a deep impression and apply it to the stem.
3 Once the wax has cooled, the stamp can be lifted out cleanly using a lever action. If there is any resistance, the wax is not yet dry, so continue to hold in place for a few more seconds.
Maker’s note: If you’re making several wax seals, your stamp may start sticking as it gets warm. To prevent this, keep it cool in between stamps by placing it on top of an ice pack. Also, don’t be tempted to use candle wax as it’s prone to crumbling and won’t stick to your wrapping paper particularly well. »
*You can make your own wax seal stamp by using an interesting shank button, a brooch or a cameo pin, glued on to a handle or a piece of wood instead of buying a wax seal.